“My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” – 1John 2:1-2
LIGHT FOR NOW: One of the essence of God’s written word is for ratification as touching conduct.
We are God’s children and as His children He loves us. And because He loves us, He corrects us when we go wrong. He doesn’t pamper wrong doings but He corrects wrong doings. Paul in 2Timothy 3:16says “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. The word “correction” in this text implies ratification in the Greek. It is a word used for improvement of life or character. He doesn’t harm us, neither does He bring pain on us when we go wrong but He corrects us in love with His word. God’s word is God’s corrective tool. He only corrects us within the conduit of His word. The new creature has a new nature with the character traits of the new creature; hence, when he acts contrary to his nature, God with His word corrects him so he could live out his character traits as one who is born of God. The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 4:12 let’s us know that the word of God is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. The word “discerner” used here implies judge; that is, it is used for judging; meaning that the word of God judges our thoughts and actions. So when a believer does wrong, we can say that the word of God in correcting him judges him. The aim of God’s word judging believers when they do wrong is not to condemn or punish them; rather, it is to correct them. That is, the judgment does not deal with the believer negatively but it deals with the bad actions to effect a correction to the end that life and character is improved. That is why another shade of the word “chasteneth” in Hebrews 12:6 is judging. That is, God in correcting our bad actions with His word doesn’t clap for the bad actions; He rather judges the action for the purpose of correction and not destruction. So what should the believer do to this correction? The believer is to yield to this correction as he yields to his realities and allow his realities manifest through him. We are to accept this correction from His word and by doing that; that is, by accepting or yielding to this correction/judging, then we have judged ourselves. No wonder Paul in 1Corinthians 11:31 says “If we judge ourselves” while talking to believers. And in the context of 1Corinthians 11, he was dealing with conduct. Thus, when he said, “If we judge ourselves”, he was speaking in reference to bad actions and this judging was for correction to effect. Hence, when judgment is used for the believer, it is not for destruction nor aimed at misfortune; rather, it is aimed at correction. So, believers judge themselves as touching bad conducts by allowing the corrections from the scriptures to effect in their lives. Hallelujah!!!
INSTRUCTION:Allow God’s words become your daily mirror and you will not force the change, the change will come naturally.
PRAYER: Your word is final authority in my life, and therefore, I allow your word influence my thoughts, words and actions in Jesus Name, Amen.
QUOTE: Stop trying to change yourself because you will fail, sit down and look into God’s word and see the change happen gradually.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4; EVENING: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 